Automotive Updates - 10th September 2015

• Adding one more sports utility vehicle to its portfolio, Mahindra & Mahindra on Thursday launched its compact SUV TUV300 at introductory Rs 6.9 lakh ex-showroom Pune. This is the fifth SUV from the stable of M&M to cater to the growing customer base for this segment. The top end variant has been priced at Rs 9.12 lakh.Built on a cmpletely new platform, this SUV has a ladder-frame chassis and is powered by a 1.5 litre M-hawk engine which puts out 84bhp of power and 230Nm of max torque. Mahindra claims that TUV300 can deliver a fuel efficiency of 18.49 kmpl (ARAI figure).(ETauto)

• Following close on the heels of its Figo Aspire launch from the Sanand plant in Gujarat, Ford Motor Company has taken the next step forward in India by confirming a new investment dedicated towards expanding operations in Tamil Nadu. The American carmaker already has a manufacturing presence at Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai where it manufactures both engines and vehicles. This new investment will add to the company’s previous investment in India of $2 billion and will go towards future capacity expansion at Ford’s Chennai plant and the establishment of a new global engineering and technology centre. Representatives from Ford and the government of Tamil Nadu today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Global Investor Meet, paving the way for a Ford campus spread across 28 acres of land. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/ford-india-confirms-fresh-investment-tamil-nadu-9248#sthash.HMspNH49.dpuf

• Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Thursday launched a limited edition version of its popular model WagonR, named Avance, with prices starting at Rs4.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).Coming just ahead of the festive season, WagonR Avance will be offered for a period of three months. The model is being introduced in two variants -- LXi Petrol and LXi CNG, the company said in a statement. While the LXi petrol variant is priced at Rs4.30 lakh, LXi CNG comes at Rs4.84 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).(livemint)

•  With domestic sales of two-wheelers on the rise, JK Tyre is planning to enter the two-wheeler segment. However, the company is not planning to start manufacturing two-wheeler tyres. Instead, it is planning to outsource production.At present, JK Tyre manufactures tyres for four-wheelers, buses and trucks. Passenger vehicle sales have not crossed 2.66 million units since 2012-13 and sales of commercial vehicles have been falling at an alarming rate. In comparison, sales of two-wheelers have been rising and more than 16 million units were sold in 2014-15. Considering this, JK Tyre cannot afford to ignore this lucrative segment any more.(team-bhp)

• As part of the Global Investors Meet, organized by the government of Tamil Nadu in Chennai, TVS Motor Company has signed an MoU to invest Rs 350 crore in its existing two-wheeler and three-wheeler plants in Hosur during the next three years. The investment will be mainly for development of new products and for capacity expansion. TVS Motor says the signing of the MoU is in line with its belief in the potential of the state in terms of human resources, infrastructure and overall business environment. It will also have a significant beneficial effect on small and medium industries which are directly or indirectly associated with TVS Motor in Tamil Nadu. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/tvs-motor-inks-mou-tamil-nadu-investment-rs-350-crore-9247#sthash.BAWlsgvL.dpuf

• Tata Motors expects business of Rs 600 crore for supplying buses under the Centre's urban renewal programme JNNURM, the second phase of which is underway. "As far as the orders go for JNNURM, around 50 per cent of the total orders are placed with Tata motors. But the company has taken lead in supply of vehicles under this scheme. So if you take the supplies, it is around 65 per cent of the total buses that are rolled out under this scheme," V S Noronha, Vice President, Tata Motors, told PTI.He was here for the launch of 23 vehicles under this scheme.(Etauto)

• The Tata Zest Anniversary Edition has been announced with 10 additional features. The limited edition model will be sold across dealerships in select cities starting from the end of September through October 2015.Based on the XMS trim level, the Zest Anniversary Edition will be available in both petrol and diesel variants. The prices start at INR 5.89 lakhs for the petrol variant and INR 6.94 lakhs for the diesel version (both prices are ex-showroom, Delhi) which are dearer than the respective regular XMS variants by INR 15,000.(rushlane)